Vehicle-wheel.



J. J. HAINES.

'VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 9, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911.

LVVENTOR.'

lV/TNESSES:

JOHN J'. HAINES, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1911.

*Application filed June 9, `1910. Serial No..566,074.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. HAINES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- Wheels;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked'thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to wheels for automobiles, wagons, carriages, andsimilar road vehicles, and has reference particularly to wheels havingthe characteristics of rubbertired wheels and spring-cushion wheels ofthe type that are designed to practically serve the purposes of wheelshaving pneu'- matic tires, without the disadvantages of inflated tires.

1 The object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle-wheelthat will be adapted to afford the desired'degree of re-lY siliency orshock-absorbing efliciency on krough or uneven roads with the use ofsubstantially solid rubber-tires, or theequivalent thereof, to the endthat the expenses incidental to the pneumatic tires may b e i mentarysection avoided, a further object being to provide a wheel of theabove-mentioned character that will be adapted to be constructed at .i

moderate expense and be reliable and economical in use.

The invention comprises a novel combined felly and tire, a hub, andnovel spokes, all constituting a shock absorbing wheel having aresilient periphery or tread, and the invention consists also in certainnovel parts, and in combinations and arrangements of parts, ashereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation olf-the outer sideof the improved wheel; Fig'. 2, a sectional view approximately on theline A A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3; a fragon an enlarged scale alsoapproximately on the line A A; Fig. ll, a fragmentary sectional viewapproximately on the line B B in Fig.` 2; Fig. 5, a perspective view ofa spoke cushion with which the -hub is provided; Fig. 6, a perspectiveviewV ofa part of one ofthe novel spokes; and Fig. 7 a perspective viewof another Vpart of the spoke.

" Similar reference characters in the drawings indicate like arts orfeatures of construction in the di erent figures thereof and referred toherein.

The improved wheel comprises a hub which may be variously constructedand which preferably includes a core or main part 1 on the inner end ofwhich is a collar 2 having a flange 3 and preferably an eX- tension 2beyond the flange to constitute a spoke-seat, the forward portion of thecore or main part having a collar l thereon provided with a flange 5arranged opposite the flange 3f with suitable space between the flangesto receive the spokes of the wheel. Each spoke comprises a stub end part6, one end of which is adapted to be secured to the hub, and theopposite end of which preferably has a guide-rod 6 projecting from itsend. The spoke-parts 6 are assembled between the flanges 3 and 5 andsecured between them by means of rivets 7 or the like. A cushion extendsaround the flanges in contact with the peripheries thereof, and itextends also between the spoke-parts 6 and around the portions of thespoke-parts adjacent to the peripheries Yof the flanges and preferablyat the sides of the spokes between them and p0rtions of the flanges, theinner sides of which are suitably shaped to receive extensions of thecushions. Said cushions preferably consist of a suitable number ofsegments, as 8, 8, havingcapertures 8 therein to receive the spoke-parts6, and in some cases the cushions have coil-springs 9 therein thatextend around the spoke-parts so as to reinforce the cushions which arepreferably composed of rubber or a suitable composition thereof. Eachspoke comprises also a tubular spoke part 10 which is adapted to slidelongitudinally over the spoke part 6 and has a flange 11 on one endthereof that is in contact with the cushion on the hub, the opposite endof the spoke part 10 having each a plate l2 suitably secured theretowhich has two opposing flanges 13 and 13 provided with bolt-holes 14 and14, respectively, to constitute a combined bearing and retaining plateofsuitable contour corresponding substantially to a relatively spokehaving a coil-spring 16 arranged in the part 10 and having one end inContact with the end of the part 6 and the other end in contact with theend closure of the part 10; the spring extending around the.

of rubber or rubber composition, and it is relatively largein diameterin cross-section, so as to have a high degree of resiliency, and theinner portion presented toward the hub has a suitable number of lugs 18thereon that project toward the hub, there being arches 19 formedbetween the different. lugs, the dimensions of the lugs conforming tothe plates 12 and the flanges thereon to which they are secured byretaining bolts 20. A suitable number of reinforcing wires or rods 21are embedded in the body portion 17 and extend circumferentially toprevent the body portion from stretching, and also to prevent thetendency of centrifugal force to throw the body portion oft' from thespokes in operation at high speed, there bein also reinforcing wires orrods 22 embedded in the composition, and they extend in the lugs betweenthe retaining bolts 20 l and the combined bearing and retaining platesand also follow the contours of the arches, so that they have archedportions 22. The tread portion of the body-part 17 has fabricreinforcement 23 therein near the surface, and also there is fabricreinforcement 24 in the lugs and in the arched portions between thelugs, there being preferably other fabric reinforcement 25 extendingcircumferentially in the body portion 17. The combined felly and tirethus constructed can not become enlarged diametrically to an undesirableextent and is adapted to withstand considerable wear while being capableof use even when considerably tread-worn, so that repairs of tiresbefore completion of trips are avoided.

In practical use the under portion of the tread in contact with theground is quite yielding, and when the load or the shock in passing overa stone or uneven ground is sufficient to cause movement ofthe spokepart 10, the latter moves inward toward the hub to absorb severe shocksby reason ofthe a sor ed by the cushion on the hub. If the force of theshock is received between the spokes the combined felly and tire, whichis relatively thin at the arches, yields insprin therein, While theshock is partially ward to a degree approximately corresponding to theyield of t-he spokes. v i

It is to be understood that various modifications may be made indetails, depending somewhat upon the nature of the services to beperformed by the wheels and load to becarried. Also the combined fellyand tire may be composed of various materials, the reinforcements 22, 22being preferably composed of spring-wire, and other reinforcements ofvarious material may be used.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is-

1. In a wheel, a felly having a plurality of elastic lugs thereon,reinforcing wires in the lugs extending circumferentially and betweenthe wires and the periphery of the felly and connected to the, flangesof the plates 2. In a wheel, a felly having a plurality of elastic lugsthereon, reinforcing wires in the lugs extending circumferentially and'also outwardly therein toward the periphery of the felly, a plurality ofradially yielding spokes having each a plate thereon seated against theend of a lug, each -plate having two ianges engaging opposite sides ofthe lug; and devices engaging the wires in the lugs and securing thelugs to'theplates.

3. In a wheel, a felly having a plurality of projecting elastic lugsthereon, each lug having a transverse hole therein, reinforcing wires inthelugs adjacent the sides of the holes that are toward the axis ofrotation of the felly, the wires extending circumferentially and alsooutwardly in the lugs toward the periphery of the felly, a plurality ofradially yielding spokes having each a plate thereon seated on the endof a lug, each plate having two apertured lianges engaging oppositesides of the lug, and bolts "extending through the apertured fiangesandthe transverse holes in contact with said wires. U

4. In a wheel a hub having a cushion thereon, stub spolre parts attachedto the hub and extending through the cushion, tubular vspoke partsmovable on the stub spoke parts and having flanges thereon seated onthel cushion, springs seated in the tubular spoke parts and also againstthe stubl spoke parts, a resilient combined felly and tire having lugs'thereon, and devices connecting the lugs to the, t-ubular spoke parts.

thereon 'comprising elastic composition extending about the hub andhaving aperturesl 5. In a wheel, a' hub having a cushion hub andextending through said apertures, tubular spoke parts movable on thestub spoke parts and having anges thereon seated on the cushion, aresilient combined felly and tire having lugs thereon, and devicesconnecting the lugs to the tubular spoke parts.

6. In a wheel, the combination of a hub, stub spoke parts secured to thehub, tubular spoke parts movable on the stub spoke parts, combinedbearing and retaining plates secured to the tubular spoke parts andhaving anges thereon, springs between said plates and stub spoke parts,an elastic combined felly and tire having lugs thereon seated on thesaid plates between the flanges thereof, securing bolts extendingthrough the lugs and said fianges, and wires in said felly and tireextending into said lugs between said plates and said bolts.

7. In a wheel, the combination of ahub,

stub spoke parts secured to the hub and having guide-rods onthe endsthereof, tubular spoke parts movable on the stub spoke parts and havingeach a combined bearing and retaining plate thereon provided each withanges, each platecomprising a closure plate extending across the end ofthe tubular spoke part, springs extending about the guide-rods andseated against the stub spoke parts and said closure plates within thetubular spoke parts, an elastic combined felly and tire having lugsthereon seated on the said closure lates, and bolts securing the lugs tothe anges.

8. A wheel including a hub having a cushion thereon, stub spoke partsattached to the hub and extending through the cushion, tubular spokeparts movable on the stub spoke parts and seated on the cushion andhaving each a combined bearing and retaining plate thereon provided eachwith anges, springs seated in the tubular spoke parts and also againstthe stub spoke parts, a resilient combined felly and tire having lugsthereon seated on the combined bearing and retaining plates between theflanges thereof, and bolts securing the lugs to the anges.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. HAINES. Witnesses:

E. T. SILVIUS, K. R. WonDELL.

